Ventilated Shoe or Insole

ABSTRACT

A ventilated shoe or insole having a uniform and continuous air channel extending from the heel portion of the sole portion or insole to the toe portion and opening, at the rear end thereof, into the air space outside the shoe or outside the insole, and at the front end thereof, into the inside of the shoe or onto the upper surface of the insole. According to the invention, the air channel is a channel formed by an elastic supporting structure and having a substantially standard cross section that as the stepping motion proceeds, closes tightly phase by phase substantially along the entire stretch thereof under the weight of the foot for transferring air according to the hose pump principle from outside of the shoe or insole into the inside of the shoe or into the upper surface of the insole along the air channel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ventilated shoe or insole as definedin the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several technical implementations have long been known for ventilatingvarious types of shoes to reduce the temperature in foot and to removethe moisture caused by perspiration. Typical solutions include variouscombinations of pumping elements and valves preventing backflow of air,where a pumping element is used to transfer fresh air from the rear ofthe shoe or from outside to the front of the shoe. Due to theircomplicated structure, these are, however, laborious and expensive tomanufacture, and thus are not suited for the mass production ofcost-critical consumer products. In particular, valves incur additionalexpenses and also are susceptible to damage and clogging caused byimpurities, after which the ventilation does not work any more. Simplerventilation structures, that is to say ones to be implemented withoutactual pumps or valves have also been proposed.

Publication GB997950 describes a solution to be placed under the foot ina shoe, the solution consisting of two overlapping layers spaced fromone another and having a continuous air slot between them. The operationis based on compression of the air slot caused by the weight of thefoot, causing the air to move in the air slot. The upper layer hasapertures in the heel and toe portion for intake and outflow of air intoand from the air slot. Furthermore, the structure has, between the heeland toe portion, a cover member being closed by the foot arch forpreventing backflow of air. A number of problems are associated with thefunctioning of the structure in practice. The wide standard-height airslot presented is difficult to implement in such a manner that it wouldbe tightly compressed down to the very edges thereof under the weight ofthe foot, so a part of the air slot volume easily remains unused.Moreover, if the air slot is not closed along its entire width, theairflow can also be directed backwards, significantly weakening theeffectiveness of the ventilation. The solutions presented in thepublication for preventing backflow, in turn, require additionalelements making the structure more complicated. For example, thelocation of the cover member on the front side of the heel portion isnot optimal with regard to efficient air transfer. The solutionpresented has the special disadvantage that the intake of air cannot beimplemented directly from outside the shoe, which especially forhigh-leg boots would be necessary to ensure efficient ventilation.

A solution of another kind has been presented in publication U.S. Pat.No. 5,010,661. Therein, as the pumping element functions a cavityarranged in an elastic material and disposed in the heel portion of ashoe or insole, the curved upper portion of the cavity yielding underthe weight of the foot thereby partly compressing the cavity, making theair in the cavity penetrate a separate airflow passage toward theforepart of the shoe. In the solution presented the air is introducedalong a separate air intake channel from behind the cavity of thepumping element. As the foot presses the upper surface of the air intakechannel against the vertical wall of the rear end of the structure, theair intake channel closes while preventing air from flowing backward.The solution has significant disadvantages. The effectiveness of the airpumping in relation to the size of the cavity remains poor in thestructure of the publication, because the cavity of the pumping elementpresented has such a shape that it is not compressed Entirely down toits very edges. The solution is also susceptible to complete closure ofthe air intake channel. As the pumping element is compressed, a channelthat is left open even partially will result in air leaking backwardalong the air intake channel. The space required by the cavity of thepumping element inevitably makes the structure large-size; in thepublication the thickness is said to be 20 or even 30 mm in the heelportion. Such a massive structure, for example, in a removable insole isimpractical. The large space required by the cavity also in thehorizontal direction causes, in addition, that absorption elements suchas air cushions, adding to the comfort especially on hard surfaces orwhen running, cannot be fitted into the same shoe. A pumping elementthat is compressed relatively loosely underneath the heel is unpleasantto the wearer of the shoe especially when running, and the structuredoes not enable possible use of an absorption element in the same shoe.Making the structure rigid, however, would possibly cause that whenwalking, the air intake channel would not close properly, and on theother hand, the cavity of the pumping element would not be sufficientlycompressed, both significantly weakening the ventilation efficiency.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the invention to eliminate the disadvantagesreferred to above.

One specific objective of the invention is to disclose a ventilated shoeor insole having a very simple ventilation structure which can beimplemented with a limited number of elements, easily and at reducedcost, and which also is very versatile being suitable for most divergentshoes and insoles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ventilated shoe or insole in accordance with the invention ischaracterised by what has been presented in claim 1.

The ventilated shoe or insole in accordance with the invention has auniform and continuous air channel extending from the heel portion ofthe sole portion or insole to the toe portion and opening, at the rearend thereof, into the air space outside the shoe or outside the insole,and at the front end thereof, into the inside of the shoe or onto theupper surface of the insole. According to the invention, the air channelis a channel formed by an elastic supporting structure and having asubstantially standard cross section. “Having a substantially standardcross section” means that the channel does not comprise any separateexpansion or cavity functioning as the pumping element, as it typicallyis the case with the prior-art solutions. As the stepping motionproceeds, the air channel disposed in the sole portion of the shoe or inthe insole fitted into the shoe closes tightly phase by phasesubstantially along the entire stretch thereof under the weight of thefoot. To be more specific, as the heel portion of the shoe typicallyfirst hits the ground when walking, the channel closes at first at therear part beneath the heel. As the shoe then lands on the groundsubstantially along the entire length of its sole, and the centre ofgravity of the foot is shifted forward, the channel closes more and morefarther ahead thereby pushing the air before it toward the front end ofthe air channel and finally into the toe portion of the shoe uponopening of the front end. At the end of the stepping motion, as theweight of the foot rests on the ball of the foot and on the toes and asthe rear part of the shoe is lifted off the ground, the channel closesdown to its front end, and the rest of the air flows inside the shoeupon opening of the channel. At the same time the rear end of theelastic air channel opens making replacement air flow into the channelfrom outside the shoe or insole upon opening of the rear end of the airchannel. Thus, a pumping mechanism which is based on tight closure ofthe air channel and progress of the closure point along the channel andwhich functions without separate pumping elements or valves is knowne.g. from hose pumps generally used in foodstuffs, pharmaceutical andprocess industry. The solution functions equally well when walking tothe opposite direction, e.g. backward, transferring air along the airchannel from the forepart of the shoe to the outside of the shoe. Therecan be several air channels in the same shoe or insole, and their sizecan be dimensioned to suit the environment or shoe type each timeconcerned. It is also possible to provide the orifice of the air intakechannel with an adjustment element of air flow intensity, enabling oneto adjust the ventilation efficiency, for example, according to theseasons. The ventilation solution of the invention is suited for themost divergent shoes. In addition to sporting shoes, boots and otherapparent applications, the solution of the invention can also beutilised in sandals. Especially work sandals, usually having a closedtoe portion, can benefit from the improved comfort achieved by means ofthe invention.

The upper surface of a sole portion or insole of a shoe that comesagainst the foot preferably is shaped to follow the curved shapes of thesole. With this kind of arrangement, the weight unevenly distributedover the shoe or insole due to the uneven shape of the sole can bedistributed more evenly so that in each phase of the stepping motion,the air channel closes properly.

In one embodiment of the invention, the air channel preferably consistsof two elastic material stripes forming a single uniform body on thesides of the air channel, the stripes being disposed, near the airchannels, in the vertical direction at a distance from one another andhaving complementary cross sections with respect to one another.“Complementary” is used to mean that the cross sections are opposed withrespect to one another. In other words, if in the one stripe, thechannel wall is formed by a recess, then in the other stripe, there is aprotrusion having the size and shape of the recess, respectively.Stripes such as this give away under the weight of the foot and arepressed accurately against one another thereby tightly closing the airchannel, making the air flow forward in the channel away from theclosure point. Joining the stripes to one another on the sides of theair channel ensures that the upper and lower portions of the supportingstructure forming the channel are prevented from moving horizontallywith respect to one another, which could impede tight closure of the airchannel. The stripes joined to another also prevent litter, pebble andother impurities from entering the space between them, which couldimpede the functioning of the structure. The material forming the airchannel preferably consists of cellular rubber or similar material thathas the same elasticity and resiliency properties. Cellular rubber alsois an advantageous material with respect to the manufacture, and enablesone to easily and accurately implement an air channel therein.

In another embodiment of the invention, the air channel is a hose madeof an elastic material. The hose can have, for example, a round or anelliptical cross section. Even a hose with a round cross section closestightly when the elasticity of the material in relation to the weightcaused by the foot is suitable. This kind of ventilation structure whichis based, for example, on a conventional rubber hose is particularlysimple in respect to the manufacture. For the implementation one needsjust an elastic removable insole with a hole arranged in the toe portionfor the front end of the hose and with a groove arranged in the lowersurface to keep the hose in place.

One embodiment of the invention comprises, in addition, a cover memberthat closes the air channel by undergoing a transformation in thehorizontal direction under the weight of the foot to ensure the closureof the air channel at the beginning of the stepping motion. This kind ofcover member is preferably disposed in the heel portion of a soleportion or insole of a shoe. At the beginning of the stepping motion,the cover member ensures that the air channel is tightly closed thuspreventing air from flowing backward in the channel. The cover member isbeneficial e.g. where the weight of a wearer who is slenderer thannormally would not otherwise be sufficient to close the channel from thevery beginning of the stepping motion, resulting in partial loss of theventilation efficacy as the air channel only moves air along a portionof its length. Horizontal operation of the cover member enables astructure of the cover member that is comfortable to use and rigid inthe vertical direction without the loose motion reducing wearer comfort,typical of cover members.

One embodiment of the invention comprises, in addition, an absorptionelement for reducing the shock effect caused to the foot as the shoetouches the ground. Particularly in sporting shoes used for running,this adds to the wearer comfort. The air channel and the possible covermember of the invention that only take up a little space give apossibility to provide the same shoe or insole with absorption elementswith suitable shapes, sizes and effects according to the purpose of use.

In one embodiment of the invention, the absorption element is acushion-like structure made of an elastic material, e.g. cellularrubber, and preferably filled with air, fluid or gel. It can also be aclosed structure made of an elastic material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the absorption element and the airchannel have been arranged and placed with respect to one another sothat when acting under the foot, the absorption element also ensuresclosure of the air channel at the beginning of the stepping motion.Thus, the absorption element acts as a combined absorption and covermember replacing the separate cover member described above. This is avery advantageous solution in respect of space utilization andminimisation of the number of separate parts. This kind of structure canbe implemented in various ways. For example, a cushion-like absorptionelement typically gets a little wider in the lateral direction by theeffect of the weight of the foot. By placing the air channel so as toproceed, suitably shaped, past this kind of absorption element it ispossible to achieve an expandable absorption element, possibly togetherwith a sole portion or insole enclosing it, to tightly close the airchannel. On the other hand, in the case of a gel-filled absorptioncushion, near the absorption cushion, the air channel can be formed as achannel that is narrowed in diameter and proceeds through the absorptioncushion. As the absorption cushion is compressed, also the channel isflattened thereby tightly closing the more easily, the smaller is thediameter of the air channel proceeding through the absorption cushion. Adiameter that has only been narrowed through a short stretch does notaffect the amount of air transferable by means of the air channel. Theabsorption element can also be an element that moves vertically withrespect to the rest of the sole portion or insole, which absorptionelement while giving away under the weight of the foot also closes theair channel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the air channel is connected, at therear end thereof, to a continuation channel opening into an air spaceoutside the shoe substantially at the height of the upper edge of theshoe leg. In this manner, the air channel opens outside the shoe via theaforementioned continuation channel. This embodiment prevents the waterand other impurities on the ground surface from entering the airchannel. The solution is particularly usable in high-leg rubber, leatheror similar boots generally used in humid and snowy conditions, but isequally well applicable to low-leg shoes. When the air channel consists,for example, of a rubber hose, the air channel proceeding in the soleportion or insole of the shoe can together with the continuation channelform a single uniform hose. Preferably, the continuation channel hasbeen so arranged as to rise from the sole portion or insole of the shoeupward from the side of the heel portion so as to pass between themalleolus and the Achilles tendon of a foot to be slipped into the shoe.Chafing of the foot is thus avoided by placing the continuation channelinto the shoe in this manner, which could be a problem if thecontinuation channel passed e.g. directly near the malleolus or behindthe heel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the opening of the rear end of theair channel is provided with a connector means to connect an externalventilation device to the ventilation structure to blow air into the airchannel. This enables one to easily dry a shoe with the ventilationstructure of the invention between times of use by blowing hot air intothe shoe along the air channel. The possibility to efficient ventilationis a particularly important feature in a situation where water haspenetrated the shoe from outside.

As described above, the invention enables one to achieve a number ofbenefits compared to the prior-art solutions. The ventilated shoe orinsole necessitates no separate pumps or valves. The sufficientventilation is achieved by means of air channels only requiring a littlespace, because in the invention, to pump the air, the channels are takenadvantage of substantially along their entire length, according to thehose pump principle. The ventilation structure can be implemented in thesole portion of a shoe, in an insole to be fixedly placed into the shoe,or in a separate removable insole. In its simplicity, the ventilationstructure of the invention is particularly advantageous to manufacture,making it also applicable to consumer products only allowing fewadditional costs. The invention is suited to be used in the mostdivergent shoes, and the material of the air channels, the shape, sizeand number of the air channels can be chosen to suit an embodiment eachtime concerned. The invention is very pleasant to the wearer because itdoes not contain pump cavities being loosely compressed under the foot.Moreover, a ventilation structure that only takes up a little spaceenables fitting of separate absorption elements into the same shoe orinsole with the ventilation structure. The air intake can be implementedat the height of the upper edge of the shoe leg, significantly reducingthe possibility of clogging of the air channels. The air channel canalso be connected to an external ventilation device that blows air intothe channel to effectively dry the shoe.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following section, the invention will be described in detail bymeans of examples of its embodiments with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a cross section illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section illustrating one alternative for the airchannel of a ventilated shoe or insole of the invention;

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c illustrate the operating principle of theinvention in three cross sections of a shoe in different phases of thestepping motion;

FIG. 4 is a cross section illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are cross sections illustrating the structure as shownin FIG. 4 and its operation;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, 7 a and 7 b, and 8 a and 8 b are cross sectionsillustrating absorption elements of the invention that also act toensure the closure of the air channel; and

FIG. 9 schematically shows a cross section illustrating a ventilatedhigh-leg boot of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a cross section illustrating a ventilated shoe 1. The shoeincludes a top portion 2 of the shoe, a sole portion 3, as well as aninsole 4 following the contours of a wearer's foot and made of anelastic material. In the insole there is an elastic air channel 5. Theair channel proceeds continuously from the heel portion 6 of the shoe tothe toe portion 7. It opens, at the rear end thereof, directly into anair space outside the shoe and at the front part thereof inside theshoe. It would also be possible that the air channel would open into theair space outside the shoe via a continuation channel at the height ofthe upper edge of the shoe leg, as illustrated by a dash line in thefigure. The possible continuation channel can also proceed outside theshoe. The figure illustrates a situation where no weight rests on theshoe 1. In that case, the elastic air channel is open along its entirestretch. The air channel has been so implemented that under weight, itcloses tightly thereby forcing the air to move in the air channel awayfrom the closure point. The top portion 2 of the shoe may also beprovided with discharge channels (not shown in the figure) enhancing theventilation, via which the air, introduced into the shoe from the airchannel 5, can further move out of the shoe.

The air channel 5 shown in FIG. 2 consists of two stripes 8 made of anelastic material, such as cellular rubber, and placed against eachother, the stripes being disposed, near the air channel, in a verticaldirection at a distance from each other. On the flanks of the airchannel the stripes meet being tightly connected to one another. Thestripes have complementary cross sections, i.e. opposite ones withrespect to one another. The operation of the structure is based on thefact that under the weight of the foot, the stripes are pressed closelyagainst each other thereby tightly closing the air channel. The materialof the stripes can be, for example, cellular rubber or similar.

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c represent the functioning of the ventilated shoe.FIG. 3 a represents the initial situation of the stepping motion inwhich the shoe has just touched the ground with the heel portion ahead.The weight of the foot 9 rests on the shoe and on the insole thereinmainly via the heel 10, making the elastic air channel 5 close at itsrear end beneath the heel. As the stepping motion proceeds, the soleportion 3 of the shoe lands on the ground along an increasingly longerstretch, as shown in FIG. 3 b. The centre of gravity of the foot and theclosure point 11 of the air channel move forward, thereby forcing theair to flow ahead toward the front end of the air channel and itsopening 12. At the end of the stepping motion, the weight of the footrests on the ball of the foot 13, as shown in FIG. 3 c, and the soleportion 3 of the shoe only touches the ground at its front part. Theclosure point 11 of the air channel has moved so as to be beneath theball of the foot. In this manner, as the stepping motion proceeds, theclosure point of the air channel has progressed from beneath the heelsubstantially across the entire stretch of the air channel up to the toeportion of the shoe thereby pushing the air ahead into the shoe uponopening 12 of the front end of the air channel. As the weight of thefoot and the closure point of the air channel together with it shiftforward, the elastic air channel re-opens starting from behind. Thisforces fresh air to flow from outside the shoe into the channel uponopening 14 of the rear end thereof. The same phases are repeated inconjunction with the next step. In this manner, air is pumped, accordingto the operating principle of a hose pump, from outside the shoe insidethe shoe without any separate pump elements or valves.

The embodiment as shown in FIG. 4 comprises an insole 15 of an elasticmaterial to be fitted into a shoe. Arranged in the insole are two airchannels 5 extending from the rear end of the insole to the toe portion.The heel portion of the insole has a bend and a narrowing in both airchannels. Near the bends the air channels have been so shaped that theportion of the insole left between them forms a cover member 16 thatcloses the channels by undergoing a transformation in the verticaldirection under the weight of the foot. The cover member ensures thatthe air channel closes properly beneath the heel right at the beginningof the stepping motion, and that the air moves forward in the channel.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b represent cross sections illustrating the insole 15 ofFIG. 4 near the cover member 16. In FIG. 5 a, the insole made of anelastic material 5 a is in the rest position, i.e. the weight of thefoot does not rest on it. The open air channels 5 have been placed ontothe flanks of the cover member 16. When the foot presses down on theinsole, the cover member and the entire insole are compressed togetherin the vertical direction while at the same time expanding in thehorizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 5 b. The air channels have such ashape that as a result of the horizontal expansion of the cover member,the edges of the channels are pressed tightly against each other therebyclosing the air channels 5. By choosing the material and elasticity ofthe cover member 16 to be suitable, it can also be made to act as anabsorption element. The material of the insole can include e.g. cellularrubber.

The absorption element 17 a shown in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b has been placedinto an insole 15 made of an elastic material. The absorption element isan air cushion stiffer than the insole. On the flanks of the absorptionelement, between the insole and the absorption element, there are airchannels 5. On the flanks of the absorption element, the absorptionelement is higher than the air cushion in the rest position, as shown inFIG. 6 a. When the weight of the foot rests on the insole, the insole iscompressed together on the flanks of the air cushion, as shown in FIG. 6b, so that the foot comes into contact with the absorption element. Whenbeing compressed together, both the insole and the absorption elementexpand at the same time in the horizontal direction pushing-against eachother so that the air channels 5 close.

The absorption element 17 b shown in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b is a fluid- orgel-filled cushion-like structure. Through the absorption element passesan air channel 5 formed by a hose-like structure. As the absorptionelement undergoes a transformation under the weight of the foot, the airchannel that passes through it is flattened thereby tightly closing.Along its length that extends through the absorption element the airchannel can have a smaller cross section than the rest of the channel,which for its part facilitates the closure.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b illustrate a third implementation form of anabsorption element that ensures the closure of the air channel at thebeginning of the stepping motion. The absorption element consists of twoedge portions 17 c 1 and a middle portion 17 c 2 between them that isdisposed higher than the edge portions. The middle portion extendspartly beyond the edge portions resting on top of them on the hoses thatform the air channels 5. As the foot is pressed against the absorptionelement, the middle portion is pressed down toward the edge portionsthereby compressing the air channels disposed between the edge portionsand the middle portion. Instead of a separate hose, an air channel thathas been arranged to be closable in a similar manner can also beimplemented with a channel arranged directly in conjunction with theabsorption element.

The cross section of the high-leg ventilated boot 18 depicted in FIG. 9shows an air channel 5 disposed in the sole structure 19 of the boot,the air channel being formed from a rubber hose 20. The same hoseextends continuously after the actual air channel 5 disposed in the solestructure 19, thereby forming a continuation channel 21 rising upwardwithin the boot, along the leg 22 thereof up to the upper edge of theleg. In this manner, the air channel thus opens into the open air viathe continuation channel, but not until at the height of the upper edgeof the boot leg. This arrangement prevents the water and otherimpurities on the ground surface from entering the air channel. Thesolution is particularly usable in rubber boots to be used on wet groundor in winter boots designed for snowy conditions. The hose rises fromthe sole structure on the flank of the heel portion 23 of the shoe sothat it propagates in the shoe across the area between the malleolus andthe Achilles tendon of a foot to be slipped into the shoe. In thismanner a hose that is placed into a recess formed by the foot's naturalshape prevents chafing of the foot caused by the hose. The continuationchannel can also be arranged to propagate in a similar manner inhigh-leg shoes other than those shown in the figure. The continuationchannel can also propagate outside the shoe. Depending on the need forventilation, there can be several air channels in the same shoe. Thefigure also shows a connector means 24 arranged at the end of the hose,enabling one to connect a separate ventilation device to the air channelfor efficiently blowing air into the boot along the air channel. Thisenables one to efficiently dry the boot between times of use. This isuseful particularly when water has penetrated a rubber boot which haspoor ventilation per se. It is also possible to connect to the connectormeans an adjustment element that adjusts the air flow in the airchannel. This enables one to adjust the ventilation efficiency to belower in winter use than in the summer time.

The invention is not limited merely to the examples of its embodimentreferred to above; instead many variations are possible within the scopeof the inventive idea defined by the claims.

1. A ventilated shoe or insole having a uniform and continuous airchannel extending from the heel portion of the sole portion or in-soleof a shoe to the toe portion and opening, at the rear end thereof, intothe air space outside the shoe or outside the insole, and at the frontend thereof, into the inside of the shoe or onto the upper surface ofthe insole, characterised in that the air channel is a channel formed byan elastic supporting structure and having a substantially standardcross section that as the stepping motion proceeds, closes tightly phaseby phase substantially along the entire stretch thereof under the weightof the foot for transferring air according to the hose pump principlefrom outside of the shoe or insole into the inside of the shoe or ontothe upper surface of the insole along the air channel.
 2. The ventilatedshoe or insole as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the airchannel is formed from two elastic material stripes having complementarycross sections that are joined to one another on the flanks of the airchannel and disposed at a distance from one another near the airchannel.
 3. The ventilated shoe or insole as defined in claim 1,characterised in that the air channel is formed from a hose made of anelastic material.
 4. The ventilated shoe or insole as defined in claim1, characterised in that the shoe or insole comprises a cover memberthat closes the air channel by undergoing a transformation in thehorizontal direction under the weight of the foot to ensure the closureof the air channel at the beginning of the stepping motion.
 5. Theventilated shoe or insole as defined in claim 1, characterised in thatthe shoe or insole includes an absorption element to reduce the shockeffect caused to the foot as the shoe touches the ground.
 6. Theventilated shoe or insole as defined in claim 5, characterised in thatthe absorption element is a cushion-like structure made of an elasticmaterial and preferably filled with air, fluid or gel.
 7. The ventilatedshoe or insole as defined in claim 1, characterised in that theabsorption element and the air channel have been arranged and placedwith respect to one another so that when acting by the effect of theweight of the foot, the absorption element also ensures closure of theair channel at the beginning of the stepping motion.
 8. The ventilatedshoe as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the air channel isconnected, at the rear end thereof, to a continuation channel openinginto an air space outside the shoe substantially at the height of theupper surface of the shoe leg to prevent the water and other impuritieson the ground surface from entering the air channel.
 9. The ventilatedshoe or insole as defined in claim 8, characterised in that thecontinuation channel has been so arranged as to rise from the soleportion or insole of the shoe upward from the flank of the heel portionso that it proceeds between the malleolus and the Achilles tendon of afoot to be slipped into the shoe to prevent chafing of the foot.
 10. Theventilated shoe or insole as defined in claim 1, characterised in thatthe opening of the rear end of the air channel is provided with aconnector means to connect an external ventilation device to theventilated shoe or insole to blow air into the air channel.